Washington – James E. Newsome was sworn in
today as a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(CFTC), the federal agency that regulates commodity futures and option
trading in the United States.

The oath of office was administered by CFTC Chairperson
Brooksley Born in a ceremony attended by CFTC Commissioners and senior
staff. Mr. Newsome was nominated by President Clinton on July 24,
1998, and confirmed by the Senate on July 31, 1998, to a term expiring
June, 2001.

A native of Plant City, Florida, Mr. Newsome received
his B.S. degree in Food and Resource Economics from the University of
Florida in 1982 and his M.S. degree in Agriculture from Mississippi
State University in 1985.

After graduating from college, Mr. Newsome was an
instructor of Animal Science at Mississippi State University. In 1989
Mr. Newsome was appointed Executive Vice-president of both the
Mississippi Beef Council and the Mississippi Cattlemen’s
Association. Since 1997, and continuing until this year, Mr. Newsome
has served as Chairman of the Mississippi Agribusiness Council where
he coordinated efforts between industry and government to promote
development and investment within the agribusiness community in
Mississippi.